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Wednesday, 31 August 2016

Hi everyoneIt's the last day of August and that means my last post for Nature's Wonders theme at AJJso first I'd like to say many thanks again to Valerie and Susi for inviting me to be the guest host this month - thank you xx. My head was buzzing with so many ideas, I had a wonderful time creating things and seeing what everyone else had made as well - thanks everyone!I couldn't go quietly so I have 3 digital pieces today to finish with.The first piece I call 'A world full of wonders'.

I had an idea in my head but I wasn't sure how to execute it. So using my favourite software I first created the flattened edge, shape of the world in pale blue and then on top of that put the background words 'Our world is full of Nature's Wonders.... Beautiful and Precious' (font: Eutemia I). But then I needed a stencil in the shape of 'the world' and didn't have one.... so I found a free image online that was just a blue and white. Then again using my favourite software I took out the white, which was the colour of the countries - so imagine cutting that out of paper and you would have a stencil. All I needed to do next with my digital one, was to convert it to a stencil and hey presto - when I used it on my page and filled all the holes (which was so easy) with real images they fitted perfectly to the shape of the countries. The images I used were from a Serif cd. Then I finished with 'Precious' - which is just what our world is. (font: Cheddar Salad BTN Cameo Rev)

This second piece you can probably guess the title - it's called 'Balance'.

... I used a photo of a background from one of my journals and then just added the rest digitally.﻿

Last but not least, my third piece is for you to say a huge thanks to everyone who visited here and left lovely comments or created pages on this theme and linked to AJJ. I had a fantastic month seeing all your wonderful blogs and ideas on the theme and I probably sat way too long zooming in, as I like to see all the details close up - you made it a great month for me... THANK YOU!

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

For todays piece for AJJ 'Nature's Wonders' challenge my pages started with an Aquamarker pen background ( I have used this background before - but that's the great thing when you take a photo and use it digitally you can make it look different every time) Then I added the digital elements and the quotes. The kits were Daisytrail Aviary Exotic and Aviary Paradise. It amazes me how many different variations there are within a species... shapes, size, colours, habitat etc like these birds of paradise.

original pages with Aquamarker pens.

Then just because I could... I used the same background (but changed its colour) and made another spread with a kit called 'The collector' from Daisytrail.

I'd never seen this type of Orange Ladybird before and before helping it out of our conservatory managed to snap a little photo.

Monday, 22 August 2016

Hi everyone... Hope you had a nice weekend.I can't believe this is my fourth week as guest host atAJJ for the Nature's Wonders challenge the time seems to be flying by.Today I have two pieces; something from my journal and something hybrid. Sadly the images I used aren't that good because it was before I had a digital camera and most are stills taken from a camcorder but they are of special memories and I'm so grateful to have them.You may have seen a couple of my previous pieces for this challenge which show birds feeding on my hands and todays post is about the first bird that it started with. Out of all my encounters, this is the one I treasure the most. This was an adventure and friendship which started with a Collared Dove called 'Harold' that was to last from 1999 to 2001. But not only was there Harold, there was also his mate that I called Madge who out lived Harold for at least another 9 months after that... and so much more that I can't fit in here.This truly is one of Nature's Wonders.... I hope you like :)

In both pictures where there are two birds - Harold is on left and Madge on right.

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My Hybrid spread started with an Aquamarker background (that cellophane method again!) The quote bottom left found on the internet and the additional digital elements came from a kit by G&T designs called 'That magic touch'.

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my original aquamarker background

For my journal I used washi tapes, acrylic paint, coloured pencils and various stamps. I printed on photo paper but they haven't printed very well. These photos were probably from about 2000.

I see birds as little people who have their own characters and quirky ways, I try and observe them as often as I can to learn about them - and they in turn often seem to do the same.

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If you would like to know the story of how I met Harold there's an old post on my third, mainly nature/garden blog. I still need to write the rest of the story including the day Harold died and what Madge did next and all the adventures we had in between. I feel so privileged to have gained their trust and got to know these lovely birds who truly were Nature's Wonders. I really miss them.

Sunday, 21 August 2016

Today I have a cute digital piece for AJJ Nature's WondersWhat makes your heart sing? When I go out in my little garden and am among nature makes mine sing. And any chance of capturing the moment on camera and I'm singing an aria.

One day a young squirrel came into the garden and was running and jumping about like a little puppy. He was investigating everywhere and smelling the flowers.

I love this little squirrel, but he's a grey squirrel and I shouldn't really like him but I do.The grey squirrels in the UK aren't native and over many years have almost wiped out our Red Squirrel through having a virus and taking over the 'Reds' habitat. But nature somehow nearly always manages to fight back and the good news is that the number of Red Squirrels and places it can be found is slowly increasing.

Friday, 19 August 2016

I thought the quote in the kit was really lovely and deserved a gentle soft looking designed page to go with it.

The quote says:What I know for sure is that Nature is always more surprising than what I could have imagined. I open my mind and its design always blows me away.

I am always mesmerised when I see butterflies in my garden and love watching them go from flower to flower. Occasionally another one of the same type might appear and for a brief moment they seem to dance in the air and maybe say hello and then go off their separate ways.

Tuesday, 16 August 2016

When I looked up the definition of the word 'Nature' it said "the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations." So with that in my mind I created this digital page to reflect that.

I used Serif digikits called ‘photo projects urban and classic’ and used some images from Serif image collections. The font used is called ‘Lexographer’.

Sunday, 14 August 2016

It started off fairly sunny but now it's a bit overcast. It's a typical day here, meaning that I am up and down to feed the birds as usual. The Blackbirds are the main ones that get special treats at present (fat pellets and currants) because otherwise the Starlings will clear everything and stop the other birds getting any if they have easy access to it.

What a treat for me to be amongst nature as well - and my daily entertainment is free!

If you saw my opening piece for AJJ you will know that one summer I was lucky to have a Robin feeding on my hand for several weeks. I noticed the starling had been watching me with the Robin and after the Robin had flown off with a mouthful of food, I continued to hold my hand out and within no time the starling also landed. For about half an hour he came back and forth to me collecting food and Dave managed to get a few nice photos.

The digikit used very appropriately is called 'Nature's Wonders' by Dee Bee Designs

Friday, 12 August 2016

Hello .....Today I have an all digital double Moon theme going on, firstly For 'Nature's Wonders' at AJJ.I love to sit and watch the sea and the waves rolling in as I find it is very calming - although never by moonlight but that might be nice too.I blended a couple of my photos to get the exaggerated size moon over our sea shore. And digitally cut out the young gull. Other elements from Beaches kit by 'Kreative Designs by Karen'. Font Pie Contest BTN Cameo Rev.

Not sure who the verse is by, but this is what it says.....

The tide recedes, but leaves behind

Bright seashells on the sand.

The sun goes down, but gentle warmth

Still lingers on the land.

The music stops, yet echoes on

In sweet soulful refrains.

For every joy that passes,

Something beautiful remains.

Living near the sea, I probably should have a better understanding of tides and the moon and how it all works but I don't.

I know there are two tides a day and at certain times of the year there can be some very high tides which can cause flooding and much damage.

The effect of the moon on the tides is a very powerful one and one good use for all this tidal energy is for generating electricity.

However, I am once again left with lots of questions, wondering if tides are useful for other things and wondering what effect the tides have on fish, sea birds and everything else in the water.

I did find a good answer to why we have tidesexplained by Professor Brian Cox but I can't begin to put it into words but I kind of grasped it I think.

These photos don't really show it clearly nor the power in the waves, but this was a winter high tide and the water on the lower promenade had not yet peaked.

The water rising and almost looking like it will cover the pier floor

and next, something for Moo Mania & more or perhaps that should be MOON Mania as moon is the theme at present. My piece will make more sense if you know that I've always loved the quote that Susi used on her team sample 'Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star'.

While I was trying to be creative Dave-the-chef was busy in the kitchen being creative himself making some chick pea veggie burgers and various breads.... yummy!

Sunday, 7 August 2016

You may have gathered from various projects that I have a big soft spot for birds. I haven't seen any owls here where I live but thought I might have heard one a couple of times, so maybe one day or perhaps that should be one night, I'll get lucky.

I think owls are such majestic birds. They have wonderful night vision and are able to rotate their heads well. Not all owls hoot - the Tawny owl does but the Barn owl screeches.. But why are they called 'wise'? - I don't know. I tried searching and there seems to be all sorts of theories on this from ancient mythology and folklore.

My background was created using Aquamarker pens in my journal (that cellophane method again) which I then photographed and added digital elements too plus one of my poems that I wrote a few years back. ( I used a part of it on yesterdays 2nd piece)The digital elements came from a kit called 'Owl Forest' by Daisytrail and a photo ( a Long Eared Owl?) that a friend took for me at a bird sanctuary.

This was the original journal pages backgrounds.

Photo was taken in 2 halves and pages reversed for this.

I love making backgrounds with Aquamarker pens where you scribble/doodle the markers on a piece of cellophane, then either spritz or breath on it and press that down onto the paper to transfer the ink.

About Me

My name is Gill (nick name Gibby Frogett )
I love to create and explore all sorts of arts and crafts.
I especially love mixed media, digital arts/craft and anything Steampunk.
I started rubber stamping in 1995 & then also glass painting, fabric painting, & jewellery making. I also write poetry and have dabbled in song writing.
When not crafting I love to watch the antics of the birds in my garden.
I love photography too although not very good at it but hoping to improve that skil.